Hyundai has put the Entourage minivan back in its production plan. Dealers were told that the minivan is now the lineup with a spring 2006 introduction.
Hyundai canceled the Entourage earlier this year when product planners could not differentiate the minivan from its Kia Sedona sibling.
But the allure of the large minivan market in the United States proved too strong for Hyundai. It wants to sell 1 million units a year in the United States by 2010, plus another 500,000 units for Kia, and it thinks minivans will help it reach that goal.
The Entourage will differ from the Sedona in its front and rear fascias, instrument panels and instrument clusters. Many optional features on the Sedona will be standard for the Entourage. Also, the Entourage will only be offered in long-wheelbase trim. The Sedona will have short- and long-wheelbase versions.
Both the Sedona and Entourage will be built on a Kia assembly line in Korea. Hyundai hopes to sell about 27,000 Entourages in the United States in 2006.
